Security Services in CIS Countries Separating Migrants Subject to Deportation from Their Children

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 10 – When the United States separated immigrant children and their parents last year, it sparked international outrage. Now, Russia and other CIS Countries are doing the same thing, and the only group speaking out and working actively against this horrific practice is the Memorial Anti-Discrimination Center.

            The pandemic has increased the number of such cases, the center’s head, Stefaniya Kulayeva says; and it has highlighted the need to update or replace the Chisinau agreement the CIS has about handling those awaiting deportations (rfi.fr/ru/права-человека/20200708-адц-мемориал-детей-мигрантов-разлучают-с-родителями-и-держат-в-закрытых-центрах-люди-в-погонах).

            Because of the pandemic, immigrants and their children are being held for extended periods in detention centers; and it is there that parents and their children are being separated. The Council of Europe’s official responsible for human rights has called on CIS countries not to hold anyone, including children, in these centers for long (unhcr.org/ru/23631-coe-course.html).

            Children are being taken away from their mothers and not left with relatives still in freedom who are willing to take them in, Kulayeva says. This is “a terrible trauma for young children and for mothers” and contradicts UN and Council of Europe recommendations and Russian law. But unfortunately, that law is not always enforced.

            While the pandemic has made this situation worse by increasing the number of cases, the practice by Russia and other CIS countries is not new. There have been reports going back several years about the separation of children and parents and about the children being overseen by officials whose normal and proper work is guarding criminals not innocent young people.

            According to the activist, this separation of parents and children is now “a systemic problem,” one that requires replacing the 2002 Chisinau agreement of the CIS countries with new bilateral accords banning the practice and address new realities. --Georgia and Ukraineno longer are part of the CIS – and Moldova has eliminated detention centers.

            Her group and the Council of Europe has launched an Internet campaign, #crossborderchildhood, to provide model bilateral agreements and end the division of immigrant families by all governments. Kulayeva says that more groups need to add their voices to end the horrific practices found in many places.